Hi everyone,

I would like to get your views on an idea that for me seems like good one, but it is always good to see other people's point of view.

In our small country Czech Republic, there is at this moment quite big disappointment with how the sports photographers are contracted and paid. Agencies are similar like istock or getty, paying dimes for these photos. My idea was to replicate what Stocksy did but in sports editorial field. I already have few photographers that will be willing to contribute to a new agency that will have the co-op model.

There is no big problem to get accreditations, we all are members of press news photographers association.   

Competition : the big newspapers (where photographers are unhappy as well). 3-4 national news agencies, ripping off photographers as well.

Risks:
  - mainly getting more photogs on board
  - get enough press publications willing to contribute
  - longevity of sports editorial photos

Funding : possible EU funding

What do you think, can stocksy model be replicated in sports editorial field?

I would say yes, but only if it is organized by some of the best people in the business. A great advantage of Stocksy was Brianna's and Bruce's experience. I suspect they knew personally quite a few buyers and thanks to their connections it wasn't difficult to convince them to switch.

If you select the contributors carefully, not too many from each region, not too many from the same discipline and only the best ones, then maybe yes?
But I don't know how that market works, if the big newspapers are the main users of such photos and they have staff photographers - then if these photographers leave and join the co-op, they would just be replaced by others, or not? 

Eliminating the news agencies as the middlemen would be probably easier.

If, let's say, the top 50 sport photographers, only the best ones, join the co-op and are exlusive, then it could get interesting if the sales dept. is also experienced, people know the market and have connections. Or not?

One more tip: before jumping you can do some research: identify the potential buyers, divide them into categories and just talk to them. Ask them if there is something that they miss in the current model, if there is something that should be improved, something that irritates them. And if you do this and that better, would they surely switch to your co-op or not?

Starting an agency and hoping that the buyers will 'just come' might not be a good idea. The buyers decide the fate of an agency, so they should be able to give you the best answers. Just my opinion.

But I don't know how that market works, if the big newspapers are the main users of such photos and they have staff photographers - then if these photographers leave and join the co-op, they would just be replaced by others, or not? 

Good point, well they need experienced photojournalists, and there is not many of them, but you reminded me of another risk and that is the quality. I saw totally crappy photos here on newspaper main page, and they just dont care. I will have to select very carefully the market we would be after.

It also depends if you area can legally support the co-op model.  As there are lots of rules and legalities that Stocksy has to follow.  It isn't just a bunch of people getting together.  It provides safeguards.

Yes Sean, we have it in legislation, it can be setup.

The way I see it: ALL photographers should be in this, otherwise news media will just buy photos from the cheaper ones...

and theres the rub it only works if the quality is better than elsewhere either of the photos themselves or the customer buying experience is better. I think the latter may well be achievable as it seems to me the existing sites are strugling with quality control.

And there also differnece between ad agencies and newspapers. Newspapers wont spend hundreds of dollars more for a 500x500 photo for their website.